There's a quarter mile of open airstrip in front of me as I slide
into the driver’s seat of the Audi R8 V10 Plus. I gently tap the throttle to
get the car rolling and then I floor the pedal. I have time to just a blink a
couple of times and I can see the speed-o read 107kmph. It had just been a few
seconds since I slammed down the accelerator pedal and the speed just kept
climbing. 150-160-170-180, None of it made sense to me, either the road was too
damn long or could it be possible that this car was moving faster and faster by
the second, unlike anything I had perceived.

Well believe it or not the Audi R8 V10 Plus is in fact that fast,
quick and mind bogglingly aggressive to have me sitting there confused,
thinking is this actually real. The new Audi is powered by a 5204cc naturally
aspirated, 40V, petrol mill which puts out 601.4bhp at 8250rpm and 560Nm of
torque at 6500rpm. These numbers aren't really going to matter so much if you
are buying a car of this class. What will matter are the numbers it leads to.
Those are a 0-100kmph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 330kmph. But
performance is not just about speed it is also about how well that speed can be
controlled and the technology that goes behind making a super car actually
super in all respects.

When it comes to the engine of the Audi R8 V10 Plus, it is not a
turbo charged or a super charged engine, despite that fact it is high revving
with an almost instant response to driver inputs and has that characteristic
sound made by an Audi performance vehicle. The Audi R8 V10 Plus is lightning
fast. It’s engine features a cylinder on Demand (COD) technology which
basically opens and shuts cylinders in the engine as per driver inputs and
needs. The R8's 10 cylinder engine also comes with a coasting mode, start/ stop
system and a dual fuel injection technology. The new version of the R8 also
brings in a more refined engine thus reducing fuel consumption by 13pc but if
you are behind the wheel of such a brute performer would fuel consumption
really matter? Now the engine has been mated to a 7-Speed auto box which goes
around by the name of S-Tronic. The S-Tronic transmission is renowned for
lightening fast shifts which are as smooth as butter, even when you have
floored the accelerator pedal you won't feel a single jerk during up-shifts.

The previous version of the R8 sported a manual transmission while
the new R8 V10 Plus is only be offered with the 7-Speed Automatic. Unlike the
previous version of the car the new one is only being offered with a V10
cylinder configuration and the old V8 has been done away with. Initially when
the R8 was introduced to the market it was built on a platform shared with the
Lamborghini Gallardo. Now in the year 2016 the R8's platform has received a
major overhaul and update and is know by the name MSS (Modular Sports System).
The platform is shared with Lamborghini's Huracan. This new MSS platform
enables the R8 to shed about 45kgs from the previous version of the car thus
making it lighter and faster. Even the centre of gravity of the new R8 is lower
than earlier model and thanks to the new high revving V10 engine the new R8 can
now redline at 8850rpm.

Like the previous model the new R8 comes with an AWD Quattro setup
which transmits power and torque to all four wheels. The Quattro technology
enables a fully variable distribution to each axle ranging from 0-100pc and has
also equipped this super sports car with a limited slip rear differential. The
new R8 also comes with a drive select option and in performance mode one can
really go bonkers with the amount of capability that has been engineered into
this vehicle, drive select offers the choice between four different driving
modes and three additional performance modes. If you are not satisfied and want
to have a bit more fun, just turn off the stability management system and reap
the benefits of zero intrusion from the vehicles driver aides.

The R8 sits on a double wishbone suspension setup and Audi's
magnetic ride damper control is also available as optional fitment. The softly
sprung suspension offers a thrilling drive experience and the vehicles low
centre of gravity also caters to a well balanced ride. If a vehicle can achieve
breakneck speeds then it must be packed with the right amount of stopping power
and the new R8 has enough of it! Braking on this vehicle is facilitated by
ceramic disc brakes on all four wheels. Customers can also opt to fit a newly
developed electromechanical steering with a dynamic steering system. The
steering on the R8 is accurate and precise, while the vehicle has a turning
radius of 5.9m making it decently maneuverable around town and fun to drive.
Like a sleek pair of leather shoes is absolutely necessary to complete your
look when wearing a tuxedo, a set of admirable tyres and rims is a must have on
any sports car. The new R8 V10 Plus sits on 245/ 35 R19 tyres in the front and
295/35 R19 tyres in the rear with all tyres fit in classy looking ten twin
spoke alloy wheels. The tyres provide immense grip on tarmac and compliment the
already exceptional stability which has been engineered into this vehicle.

On the looks front the vehicle has clean and crisp lines which run
seamlessly from front to back and has a very sharp design philosophy making it
look more edgy and aggressive than ever before. The vehicle also sports two
part side blades, Audi's laser spot headlamps, dynamic turn signals and aerodynamic
design which lends the vehicle exceptional downforce. Once nestled inside the
cabin of the R8, the 'Virtual Cockpit' design makes you feel more like you are
seated at the helm of a spaceship. The three spoke multi function steering
plays host to the drive select button, exhaust settings and ignition. a large
TFT monitor is placed right infront of the driver to view information like
torque, power, oil and tyre temperatures, G-Force and lap time. Other equipment
on the R8 is an MMI multimedia infotainment touch system, Audi's Phone Box and
a sound system from Bang and Olufsen. In all departments the new Audi R8 is
better than its previous version and just does not cease to amaze. The single
variant of the R8 V10 Plus comes with a price tag of Rs. 2.5 crore
(ex-showroom) which is quite extraordinary but then again this vehicle is not
meant for everybody.

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